Contact mechanism



CONTACT MEcHANIsM -Fi1ed Sept. 25, 1928 INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 19, 1932 LEON D. Bannows, OF GREAT Nncmmiw YORK, AssIGNOB. To AMERIGAN TELEPHONE #PATENT OFFICE, Y

.AN D VTEL-EGRAPHN COMPANY, A (IORPOIR'AJJIDN` 0F NEW YORK coNTAc'r MECHANISM Application med september This invention relates to electromechanisms, and more particularly to the contact elements thereof.

The springs of electromechanisms, such as jacks, keys, relays and thelike, are provided Wit-h contact elements. These .contact elements usually consist of a contact disk formed on one spring and a contact point formed 'on a-companion spring. In the operation of theelectromechanism these elements arebrought together to close an electric circuit. In practice, it has been found that dirt and foreign particles adhere to the contact disks, and cause their surfaces to become roughened or pitted afterthey have been in service for a time. This roughening or pitting of the contact disks increases as tune goeson, and

` the amount of foreign matter on said disks increases correspondingly. This impaired Zoccondition of the contact elements has been 3-5 Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a found in practice to be thecause of considerable circuit trouble as it prevents proper conl tact between the contact elements `so that an electrical circuit cannot be completed therethrough.

It1 is an object of this invention to obviate this deterioration of the contact elements in a simple'and inexpensive manner and to provide elements which will effecta reliable contact with each other. g

The invention will be more fully` understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which one embodiment thereof is illustrated.

side elevation lof a pair, of contact springs equipped with the improved contact elements l in accordance with this invention, and'Fig. 2

4() is a fragmentary -plan View of the lo'wer conjsact'spring with the improved contact applied thereto.

In'Fig. 1 the contact springs 5 and Ghave their at surfaces lying parallel with each other, and are providedwith contact elen'lents 9 and 10, respectively. The element 9 is commonly referredto as a contact point and the element 10 a contact disk. These elements which are positioned near the ends ofthe springs are brought together into contact 25;' 192s. serial Nn. aosaoa.

' with each otlier to close an electrical' circuit:

` in amanner well understood i'n the art.

In accordance with this invention, as'ilf -lustrated in Fig. 1, the spring 5 is equipped with a special contact point 9.- In the present instance, this contact point is shown as having a fiat'circular base with an extended The' contact disk l0 associatedl with' the spring 6 ma be substantially-the same formation as't e present well known contact disk, The present disk, however, consists of a fiat circular plate of suitable dimensions to correspond to the dimensions of the point 9 so that it may make proper contact therewith. A perforation 11 is provided through the approximate center of the contact disk 10, and this perforation also extends through the spring 6. The perforation 11 Ofv the disk 10 lies substantially in alinemnt with the central portionof the contact point 9 so that when contact is made between these elements their central portions lies in `coincident relation to each other. The provision of the perforation 11 through the contact disk 1 ()l and its associated spring 6 prevents dirt or foreign particlesfromcollecting on said disk at the'point where the contact 9 and disk y10 meet.

. The contact 'point 9 and contact disk 1U may be formed integral with their respective springs 5 and 6 orv may be welded or other- While the arrangements of this invention have been illustrated as embodied in a cerwise attached thereto in any suitable manner.

tain speciicvform, which has'beendeemed desirable, it will be understood that they are capable of embodiment in many and widely*- varied forms without departing from the spirit of the invention as deli-ned in the fol@ lowing'claim.

What is claimed is y:

A contact mechanism lncluding a pair of springs and an element associated with-each spring adapted to directly contact with an" element an the other spring, one of saidelements including a projecting member of substantially semi-spherical formation and the other of said elements including a disk, said disk having an opening therethrough and extending through its associated spring to prevent the adherence of foreign particles on said disk at the point Where said projecting element and disk element Contact with each other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 21st day of September, 1928.

, LEON D. BARROWS. 

